PROVIDENCE, RI – Despite Rick Santorum's decision yesterday to suspend his campaign for the Republican nomination for president, his name will still appear on the ballot for Rhode Island's April 24 presidential primary, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis confirmed today.
"I want to head off any confusion voters may have. Not only have the ballots already been printed, but the deadline for candidates to take their names off the ballot has passed," said Mollis, who emphasized that he has not been contacted by the Santorum campaign about the issue.
State law requires candidates for their party's presidential nomination to withdraw no later than 63 days prior to the date of the primary, or by Feb. 21 this year.
The names of the 22 candidates who are running as Santorum delegates to the Republican National Convention will also remain on the ballot.
The April 24 presidential primary will be the first test of the state's new Voter ID law. Voters will be asked to show ID when they vote at the polls. Poll workers will accept a wide variety of IDs including a RI driver's license, RIPTA bus pass and Social Security card.
Eligible voters who do not bring an acceptable ID to the polls can still vote using a standard Provisional Ballot. If the signature they give at their polling place matches the signature on their voter registration, their ballot will be counted.
The Secretary of State's office prepares the ballots for all federal, state and municipal elections held in Rhode Island. In addition, the office maintains the statewide voter registration database, encourages voter registration and turnout and creates guides to running for office and voting.
Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier for Rhode Islanders to vote, making it easier to do business in Rhode Island and making government more open and accessible. For more information about the programs and services the Secretary of State offers Rhode Islanders, visit sos.ri.gov.
MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Barnett - 222-4293
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